Iowa sheriff spots large, venomous snake in middle of the road

You never know what's lurking in Iowa's lakes and rivers!
Aaron Young/The Register

Madison County Sheriff Jason Barnes discovered a large timber rattlesnake on Thursday, Aug. 3, 2017 at Pammel State Park in Winterset, Ia. Barnes shared this photo of the snake on Facebook, where it has more than 1,100 shares.(Photo: Courtesy of Madison County Sheriff Jason Barnes)

According to a July 2015 news release from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Iowa has almost 30 species of snakes. And although timber rattlesnakes are rare to find in the state, the DNR said, there are more sightings in eastern and southern Iowa.

Timber rattlesnakes are protected in 14 of Iowa's 99 counties — including Madison — but aren't when "within 50 yards of an actively occupied residence."

"All other Iowa snakes are protected in all counties, and cannot legally be collected (without a scientific collector’s permit) or killed," the DNR said.

Barnes has been in law enforcement for 20 years, and knew that this snake was protected.

He added that the snake eventually slid on, saying that "it was just being a snake in the woods."

Last month in a viral photo, a "huge" northern water snake — one of the state's most commonly seen snakes — was spotted by an Iowa fisherman at Rathbun Lake in Appanoose County.